United States Patent 1191

[11]

4,444,445

Davies et a1.

[451

Apr. 24, 1984

[54] APPARATUS INCLUDING ELECTRIC

CURRENT TRANSFER

2,236,707

4/1941

Damer et a1. ..................... .1310/239

3,324,445

6/1967

Miller ............................. .. 339/61 M

FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS

[75] Inventors: Evan J. Davies; Alec G. Allen, both of

Sutton Cold?eld, England

513269

2/1955

Italy ............................... .. 339/9 RY

[73] Assignee: National Research Development

Corporation, London, England

Assistant Examiner-David L. Pirlot

[21] App]. No.: 341,183

Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Cushman, Darby & Cushman

[22] Filed:

[57]

[30]

Jan. 20, 1982

Foreign Application Priority Data

Jan. 26, 1981 [GB]

Jun. 29, 1981 [GB]

Primary Examiner-Joseph H. McGlynn

'

ABSTRACT

Apparatus consuming heavy electric current, such as an

arc furnace, has concentric members (1) vand (3) be

United Kingdom ............... .. 8102313

United Kingdom ............... .. 8119930

tween which the current has to be transferred. The

member (3) can rotate around, and/or move axially

[51]

Int. Cl.3 ........................................... .. H01R 39/00

[52]
[58]

U.S. Cl. .............................. .. 339/5 M; 339/9 RY

Field of Search .................... .. 339/5, 7, 6 R, 6 A,

with respect to, member (1). Interposed, an annular

member (2) has helically twisted tufts (11) of copper
wire slidably retained by bushes (12) in a hole (10). The

[56]

339/6 RL, 8 R, 8 A, 8 P, 8 L, 8 PB, 8 PS, 8 RL,

copper wires are compressed to ?t between the mem

9 RY, 61 M; 310/219, 231, 239, 248

References Cited

bers (1) and (3), and the compression is stored as elastic

helical twisting energy, ensuring good contact pressure

to transfer current between the members (1) and (3).

U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS

1,908,764 5/1933 Kruger .............................. .. 339/8 R

1 Claim, 3 Drawing Figures

US. Patent -

Apr. 24, 1984

4,444,445

ft

APPARATUS INCLUDING ELECTRIC CURRENT

TRANSFER
This invention relates to apparatus having two rela

tively movable conductive members between which

electric current is to be transferrediExamples of types
of apparatus which are envisaged are electrochemical
plant, are furnaces and induction heaters, where very
heavy currents are handled and where a certain free

dom of movement of current-carrying members during

>

straints, not shown, arranged so that the member 2 does

not protrude out of the space between the ?rst and third
members.

As shown in more detail in FIG. 2, the second mem

ber 2 is an annulus having numerous radial bushed holes
10 in a regular array. In each hole 10, a bristle in the
form of a tuft 11 of springy copper wire is held. The tuft

11 is square-cut at each end and slightly longer (when

unstressed) than the distance from the outer surface of
the first member 1 to the inner surface of the third mem
ber 3.

able or axiallydisplaceable or both). In the invention,

It will be appreciated that, if the member 3 were

absent, the holes 10 need be only blindtholes facing the
?rst member 1, and the tufts slightly longerthan the
holes were deep plus the spacing between themembers
1 and 2. In any case, the tufts could be conductively
bonded in position, and each tuft could consist of a
single wire only. An alternative material to copper

the surface of one of the members is characterized by a

would be, for example, phosphor bronze for its springi

plurality of spaced resilient conductive bristles (e.g. of 20

wire, or of tufts of wire) under pressure brushing the

ness.

use is needed.

In apparatus according to the invention, the members

have surfaces facing each other, their relative motion
being such that the distance apart of the surfaces re

mains substantially the same (e.g. they are parallel

plates, or they may be concentric and mutually rotat

surface of the other member to effect the current trans

FIG. 3 shows the three members in their relative

operative positions, and one of the holes 10 in more
detail. A bush 12 is force-?tted one at each end of the

fer. The pressure is preferably accommodated elasti

hole 10, flush with the body sides of the member 2.
cally, preferably as a helical twist imparted to the tufts.
25 (Instead of one bush 12, the hole 10 could have been
The tufts may be rooted in holes in the member.
counterbored). The tuft 11, which is twisted elastically
The apparatus may consist of three concentric mem
to form a long pitch helix or any other con?guration
bers. In this case, the middle one may be annular and
giving axial springiness, is ?tted to the illustrated pos
bristled, further having spaced conductive bristles di
tion by presenting it through both bushes 12. The tufts
rected outwardly to brush an outermost (third) concen
are a somewhat loose fit through the bushes. When the
tric conductive member mutually rotatable or axially
apparatus is assembled, the tufts 11 are necessarily com
displaceable or both with respect to the innermost (?rst)
pressed axially and relax partly by adjusting the pitch of
member, for current transfer between the ?rst and the
their helix and partly by bowing-out in the central part
third members. The outwardly directed bristles may be
of the hole 10 between the bushes 12; the helical form
rooted in through-holes and may be long enough to
protrude such as simultaneously to serve as inwardly 35 prevents excessive bowing-out.
When the apparatus is assembled, the numerous tufts
directed bristles.
11 are held in position by compression between the
The invention will now be described by way of exam
members 1 and 3, while the member 2 is free to slide
ple with reference to the accompanying drawings, in
(either axially, subject to the limit restraints, or rotation
which
FIG. 1 shows schematically part of an apparatus 40 ally) relatively to either of those members.
Grooves 2a (inner) and 2b (outer) in the member 2
according to the invention

retain the previously mentioned guide blocks, shown as

21 and 22, for preserving the spacing between the mem
bers 1 and 2, and 2 and 3.
FIG. 3 is a section (to a still larger scale) taken in the
vertical plane including the line IIIIII shown in FIG. 45 In use, heavy electric current (kiloamps or more) is to
be transferred from the power supply to the arm 3a,
2, and showing the other members in position.

FIG. 2 shows one member of the apparatus to a larger

scale and

Turning to FIG. 1, a ?rst member 1 is a copper col

umn having a rigid radial arm 1a leading to a fixed

supply of electricity.
A second member 2 is a non-magnetic annulus
mounted concentrically on the column 1 with clearance
and able to move axially and rotationally with respect
to the ?rst member 1. Preferably the annular gap be
tween the members 1 and 2 is determined by non-con
ductive guide blocks (e. g. of nylon or PTFE) in the gap. 55
A third conductive member 3 has a concentric space

which may have to move during passage of the current.

(The expedient of water-cooled flexible cables to do this

job is cumbersome and expensive). Current passes from
the member 1 into the member 3 through the numerous

tufts 11, such that any given wire is carrying only a

modest current; should any wire be carrying excessive
current, it will heat up and thus become more resistive,
automatically forcing the total current to balance itself
out better amongst all the wires.

The axial compression of the tufts 11, stored largely

accommodating the second member 2 with clearance

as a helix-twisting force, provides the contact pressure,

and has a rigid arm 30 leading to a moveable electrode

arm of an arc furnace (not shown). When the electrode

and each individual wire can move along its own axis,
even within a tuft, to adopt an equilibrium position to

arm is moved, the third member 3 is thus forced to slide 60 bear against both the members 1 and 3; of course the tuft
as a whole can also move to adopt such an equilibrium
over and/or rotate about the second member 2. Move
ments of the electrode arm which cannot be accommo

dated by such sliding and rotation are not permitted.

position.

As the member 3 is moved, the tufts 11 (under their

propensity to untwist and hence to lengthen) wipe the

The return to the electricity supply would run to a ?xed
counter-electrode of the arc furnance. The second 65 surface of the member 1 or of the member 3 or both,
thus providing a self-cleaning action and automatically
member 2 is not positively driven to move in any direc
taking up slight wear or surface irregularities. Accord
tion, but is freely left to take up inertly any position as
ingly, no special conditions should be needed in the way
the third member 3 is moved, subject to axial limit re

4,444,445

of cooling gas or inert gas, except preferably for some

1L Apparatus including ?rst, second and third mem

bers, said ?rst and third members being two mutually
rotatable and axially displaceable concentric conduc

rudimentary protection against gros dirt.

Which of the members 1 and 3 is moveable and which
of them is connected to the power supply can be re

tive members between which electric current is to be

versed compared with the illustrated example.

transferred, said ?rst and said third members having

When the device is used as a connector, for example

when the member 1 can be withdrawn completely and
replaced as in the connections to an induction heater
coil, it may be desirable to restrain the tufts 11 from
excessive protrusion into the gap vacated by the mem
ber 1 but without interfering with their pressure func

surfaces facing each other and their relative motion

being such that the distance apart of the surfaces re
mains substantially the same, said second member being

diate member having a plurality of spaced resilient tufts

tion. A simple annular clip in association with the

of wire disposed in substantially radially extending

an intermediate annular member which is concentric

with said ?rst and third members, said second, interme

bushes 12 would suffice, such as a clip about the tuft 11

throughholes in said second member, said tufts being
within the hole 10 and abutting the bush 12 nearer to the
long enough to protrude both inwardly and outwardly
member 1, and there are many other ways of doing it. 15 thereof and the ends of said tufts thereby being under
Still when the device is used as a connector, a long
lead chamfer can be provided on the member 1, so that

pressure and simultaneously brushing the facing sur

on its reinsertion, it smoothly recompresses the tufts 11

which might otherwise obstruct it.
We claim:

rent transfer, the pressure being accommodated elasti

faces of said ?rst and third members to effect the cur

cally as a helical twist imparted to said tufts.

i

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55

65